Saturday, June 29, 2013
CHICAGO, Ill. – The Charlotte Eagles took a 2-1 victory against the Chicago Fire Reserves on Saturday evening at Toyota Park. The Eagles went ahead early in the third and 14th minute courtesy of goals from Christian Meza and Shaun Francis. Maicon Santos pulled the Men in Red within one in the second half before a 78th minute red card to Alex forced the Fire to finish the match a man down.
In the third minute the Eagles opened the scoring when Meza dribbled down the left flank and into the box and sent his low, driven shot inside the far post to put the visitors ahead. The Eagles would double their lead 10 minutes later when Francis pounced on a loose ball and unleashed a wicked half-volley into the back of the net.
The Fire would pull one back in the 51st minute. Maicon Santos danced around the Eagles backline and broke into the 18-yard-box. Santos dribbled nearly to the endline and at the sharpest of angles, whipped in a curving shot that bent past Charlotte goalkeeper Eric Reed and just inside the far post to pull the Fire within one.
In the 68th minute, Alex was shown a yellow card for an infraction in the center circle. This would come in to play just 10 minutes later when the Brazilian was shown a second yellow card for a foul outside the Fire’s 18-yard-box and forcing the Men in Red to finish the match a man down.
Fire ‘keeper Paolo Tornaghi made two point-blank saves in the 81st minute to keep the score within one, but the Eagles would claim victory as they moved into fifth place in the USL PRO standings while extending their undefeated streak to five games.
The Fire kick off a three-game homestand in Major League Soccer against the San Jose Earthquakes at Toyota Park on Wednesday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9). Tickets are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire or by visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com.